Praedicator

Verba

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 - Tuesday in the 8th Week in Ordinary Time

[1 Pet 1:10-16 and Mark 10:28-31,420]

Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy. [ 1 Peter]

One of the more unusual feastdays on the Dominican liturgical calendar is that of the "translation of St. Dominic." It has nothing to do with language! "Translation" here is a literal "translation" of the Latin verb meaning to move something from one place to another. In English we might prefer to use the word, "transfer," but it comes from exactly the same Latin verb! In the case of today's feastday, translation refers to moving the body of St. Dominic from its grave in the yard of the priory in Bologna, Italy, to an elaborate tomb in the church next to the priory, where it rests today. This occurred in 1233 at a General Chapter of the Order and according to eye witnesses, there was fear that when the grave in the yard was opened, there would be a bad smell, which, in the notions of the time, would reduce the honor of the day as well as the person. It was a matter literally of "the odor of sanctity." In this case, all they could smell was roses. Except for a brief period during the allied bombing of Italy in World War II, St. Dominic has remained in his big tomb in the priory church.

The Letter of Peter today urges us to be holy, quoting from Leviticus. There is a certain integrity that one may sense in a person whose life is lived close to the Lord. Holiness comes from that integrity. Most of us will stay where we're put once we are buried after death, so we don't need to worry about the "odor of sanctity" in that sense. In this life, however, that "odor" comes from the life lived in accord with our faith. Others will sense it somehow, even if not by smell! AMEN